Fatigue from video calls: Examining impacts, psychological aspects, and strategies for relief
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, more companies are predicted to continue facilitating working from home, a shift that has led to an increase in video call usage for work communication and meetings. This rise in virtual interactions has given birth to a phenomenon known as video call fatigue, a feeling of exhaustion experienced by individuals working from home, even after accounting for a long commute.
Video call fatigue stems from the unique cognitive and physical demands of virtual interactions. The constant close-up eye contact, heightened self-consciousness due to seeing oneself on screen, reduced mobility, higher cognitive load, invasive physical proximity perception, and prolonged screen exposure all contribute to this phenomenon.
The effects of video call fatigue are far-reaching. People often experience mental and physical exhaustion, with symptoms such as mental fog, tiredness, and bodily tension, despite little physical movement. Video calls can also produce negative emotions such as sadness, frustration, or anger more intensely than in-person interactions. Cognitive impairments, such as difficulty focusing, attention deficits, impaired decision-making, and memory problems, are also common.
Moreover, video call fatigue can lead to sleep disturbances and hormonal imbalances, which can further impair emotional regulation and the immune system. Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle spasms, and nausea related to vestibular system incompatibility are also possible.
To combat video call fatigue, several strategies can be employed. Scheduling breaks away from the computer and between video calls can help reduce tiredness. Limiting video calls to necessary meetings and establishing rules, such as muting microphones when not speaking, can help keep things running smoothly.
Smaller conference calls with fewer people can also help ensure everyone has time to speak and reduces frustration. The presence of background noise or distractions during a video call can make a person self-conscious, so ensuring a quiet and distraction-free environment is essential.
Performance pressure during video calls can cause exhaustion due to self-awareness and the need to maintain a certain image. Gaze awareness, a lack of eye contact during video calls, is another contributing factor.
In the United Kingdom, approximately 50% of adults in employment were working from home in May 2020. It's crucial to recognise that video call fatigue can negatively impact mental health, and steps should be taken to mitigate its effects.
The term 'Zoom fatigue' is commonly used to describe the exhaustion caused by extended video call use, particularly on the Zoom platform. However, it's important to remember that video call fatigue is not exclusive to any one platform and can occur with any video conferencing tool.
In summary, video call fatigue arises from a combination of unnatural visual demands, heightened self-awareness, reduced physical movement, and cognitive overload during virtual interactions. Its effects extend beyond tiredness to emotional distress, cognitive dysfunction, physical symptoms, and broader health impacts. As we navigate the post-pandemic world, it's essential to be aware of video call fatigue and take steps to manage it effectively.
- The cognitive and physical demands of video calls can lead to mental and physical exhaustion, often resulting in mental fog, tiredness, and bodily tension, even for those who have adjusted for long commutes.
- Prolonged screen exposure during video calls can cause a variety of physical symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, hormonal imbalances, headaches, muscle spasms, and nausea.
- To combat video call fatigue, strategies like scheduling breaks, limiting unnecessary video calls, and establishing rules can help reduce tiredness and improve overall well-being.
- Video call fatigue can have detrimental effects on mental health, so it's crucial to be aware of its impact and take steps to mitigate it, such as ensuring a quiet and distraction-free environment.
- While the term 'Zoom fatigue' is commonly used, video call exhaustion is not exclusive to any single platform and can occur with any video conferencing tool.
